Russia urges Iran to cooperate with UN nuclear agency

Russia today urged Iran to cooperate with the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to show transparency in its relationship with the body to resolve outstanding issues related to Tehran’s nuclear programme.

“Clarification of outstanding questions regarding the Iranian nuclear programme would meet not only the goals of strengthening the non-proliferation regime but quite obviously the interests of Iran as well,” said Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, as he addressed the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate.

He said Russia saw no reasonable alternative to a political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through constructive dialogue between Tehran and the group of six nations tasked with negotiating with Iran on its controversial nuclear programme. The six States are Russia, United States, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

On sanctions against Iran, Mr. Churkin said they were intended to send a signal to Iran about the need for full cooperation with IAEA, and to give impetus to the negotiating process.

“We strongly reject a situation when, parallel to the collective efforts in the UN Security Council, unilateral decisions on sanctions are made, including ex-territorial ones, which undermine the very foundation of further joint efforts. We must put an end to this practice that runs counter to international law and is negatively politically charged,” Mr. Churkin said.

He noted that this year has been marked by progress in nuclear disarmament, citing the treaty signed by the Presidents of Russia and the US in Prague in April on measures for the further reduction of, and limitation of, strategic offensive weapons.

“We hope that the strong impetus given by Moscow and Washington to the process of nuclear disarmament will be followed by all nations, first of all, by nuclear-weapon States.”

In a bid to strengthen the UN role on issues of global security, disarmament and confidence-building, Mr. Churkin announced that Russia will, during the current Assembly session, table three resolutions.

They are a draft resolution on Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities, co-sponsored with China; a draft resolution on Information and Telecommunications Achievements in the Context of International Security; and a Russia-US co-sponsored draft resolution on Bilateral Strategic Offensive Arms Reductions and the New Framework for Strategic Relations.